Water From An Ancient Well

I enjoyed it! However, the first song TIDAL autoplayed after the album finished was "Headache and Migraine Natural Relief" so idk what conclusions to draw there.

Bland, innocuous instrumentals. No thanks.

I was expecting something more ancient sounding, honestly? That first song had a cool motif of the trumpets pushing everything else forward, but the rest of it mostly just blended with any other jazz album in my mind.

Not at all what I thought it’d be from the cover and title. I wish it’d been something other than boring jazz!

I have not heard this before. I was worried when I saw this was made in 1986 because jazz from the 80s tends to be really awful smooth jazz or fusion that is on its way to becoming smooth. Fortunately this album avoids that entirely and also doesn’t have any terrible mid-80s production to it. The uptempo stuff is pretty enjoyable but about half the album lacks drums and is slow enough to get into dirge territory. Altogether good but drags on a little with the slower tracks.

Aufgenommen im Oktober 1985 im legendären Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, unter der technischen Leitung von Rudy Van Gelder, dokumentiert dieses Album den südafrikanischen Pianisten Abdullah Ibrahim auf dem Höhepunkt seines Schaffens mit seinem Septett Ekaya. Erschienen beim US-Label Black Hawk Records, produziert von seiner Frau Sathima Bea Benjamin, versammelt die Platte acht eigene Kompositionen, die Ibrahims charakteristische Verschmelzung von südafrikanischer Township-Musik mit amerikanischem Jazz in aller Reife zeigen. Was diese Aufnahme so besonders macht, ist die Balance zwischen kollektivem Bläsersatz und Ibrahims unverkennbarem Klavierspiel, das zwischen Duke Ellingtons harmonischem Reichtum und der rhythmischen Klarheit südafrikanischer Marabi-Musik pendelt. Stücke wie „Mandela" – eine musikalische Hommage an den damals noch inhaftierten ANC-Führer – oder das getragene „Song for Sathima" tragen eine politische wie persönliche Dringlichkeit in sich, ohne je plakativ zu wirken. Das elfminütige Titelstück „Water From An Ancient Well" entfaltet sich als meditative Reise, getragen von Carlos Wards Altsaxofon und Ricky Fords warmem Tenorton. Besonders bemerkenswert ist, wie organisch sich die vier Bläser – Ward, Ford, Charles Davis am Bariton und Dick Griffin an der Posaune – zu einem homogenen Klangkörper fügen, während David Williams und Ben Riley im Rhythmusfundament für ruhige, atmende Beweglichkeit sorgen. „The Wedding" mit seiner schlichten Melodik zeigt Ibrahims Gabe, aus wenigen Tönen tiefe emotionale Wirkung zu erzeugen – ein Kennzeichen, das sein gesamtes Werk durchzieht. Ein Album, das die Wärme und Weisheit eines Musikers einfängt, der Exil und Widerstand in zeitlose Klangbilder verwandelte.

A nice jazz album, but nothing that really stands out. Might like it more after some time.

I’m no jazz aficionado. I’m sure my son, who loves jazz, will be upset that I will rate this higher than the more experimental jazz albums. This was easy to listen to, although nothing surgically jumped out at me. I heard it and it’s pretty much gone from my memory.

nice break from all the rock albums but not notable at all.

Solid-ass jazz

Informal music for formal occasion, black tie draped over collar. The recording puts the band across the table from you, completely at ease with itself, one of those evenings that leave a lasting, happy memory without many specifics.

I really vibed with this - airy and melodic, a great soundtrack to a day's work while being interesting enough for a close-listen. I hear why people say it sounds like a cartoon soundtrack - is this a South African jazz thing? I remember commenting something similar for the Hugh Masekela album, but I enjoyed Mr Ibrahim's efforts here much more. Cocktail jazz, in a good way.

Good and reliable! It is the genre it says.

Kinda felt like New Orleans Jazz-y

Rather average.

Good music just not my jam

Good ol jazz

This wouldn’t come up on Apple Music and I had to listen to it on Spotify, which was obnoxious and disjointed. This was fine. It didn’t really move me one way or the other. I liked the fist song, but other than that I wasn’t crazy about it.

You can give it a listen, but you don't have to. I agree with the person who said that, starting with the third track, almost everything sounded the same. So, I'll take the middle ground and give it a 3/5.

I <3 jazz

Solid jazz album. Really like the bari sax on these recording.

Great background jazz. RYM: N Saved a song: N

Nice. Really enjoyable album. Beautiful jazz.

Not for me.

Smooth, interesting, and enjoyable.

I don't think I have a good ear for jazz, but this was pleasant to have on in the background on my way into work today. Nothing particularly stood out, but it was a nice listen.

Smooth

Some really cool smooth jazz

Great musicians, but I got so bored

The best thing about this album is the Rabbit Hole of African jazz it let me into. Since I watched it on YouTube, the queue put in an Ethiopian coffee house DJ that was spinning some good stuff. It was more memorable than the album, but it was a nice laidback album on its own.

It's jazz. It's alright.

I seriously hope that today was the last day I confused Abdullah Ibrahim with Idris Muhammad. Couldn't be more different and still both be reasonably prominent jazz musicians of the 1960s/70s/80s but until now I never thought about either enough to cement who's who in my mind. Anyway, a fine album but not within the first 250 jazz albums I would have put on this list. That's more a statement on how many great jazz albums there are that these listers appear to be unaware of than any kind of judgement on this particular record. Ricky Ford really shines here. An under appreciated talent. The whole band is top notch, actually. Credit to Ibrahim that he doesn't dominate every tune, as too many band leaders do. And the tunes are good, too. I guess he wanted to put those in the center as opposed to his piano playing. Wise choice. This is a keeper and I am looking forward to revisiting it more. Still, bizarre choice for a list so badly under jazzed. I am not even sure this is Ibrahim's best album. Weird list.

A welcome break from a string of very US-centered and pop- and rock-oriented albums, although I'll admit that I'm a poor judge of jazz albums and know nothing of the recently-deceased Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim (outside of the fairly anemic Wikipedia and "1001 Albums" entries), nor much about Cape Town/South African jazz traditions. I enjoyed the range of styles and tempoes of the album, though, and thought the opening track "Mandela", "Tuang guru" and "The mountain" were highlights; nice too to hear a version of his anti-apartheid-anthem "Manenberg" on the album.

Not the new age exposition I imagined from the cover and album title but sprightly jazz that reminds me a little of New Orleans-style jazz.

Smooth like a lake in the early morning. Very good

eipä tällainen nokkahuilu instrumentaali ole oikein minun musaa. Ehkä jossain ravintolassa hyvä taustamusa

It’s nice and easy, swing jazz, fairly lyrical. Maybe that’s the South African element, don’t know as it sounds quite standard to me. Not an expert by any means but I do listen to jazz. So it’s good listen, maybe a bit elevated because of the apartheid element than the actual music - as in there are likely hundreds of jazz recordings more musically 1001, but whatever subjective and it’s nice music 3 star

This whole album seemed like relatively paint by numbers jazz to me. I liked the song The Mountain. I did not notice that the linked version on Spotify is missing the title track so I listened to that on YouTube and I am so glad I did. What a fantastic song. The way the piano dances, the flute solo, the trombone parts with the shifting dynamics are just fantastic.

The fucking face I made after reading all about apartheid and protest only for the song called Mandela to be like…a song that would play over a shopping montage. Water From an Ancient Well? More like water from the JCPenney bathroom. I guess it’s fine? But I. The way that Jazz is tough to critique unless it’s actively painful. I think other songs capture an emotion that makes more sense? Contextually? Maybe? I don’t know how to explain it but there’s something about the sound of this album that’s so 80s in a bad way. Some of these songs could be in a sitcom, eugh

Well-intended, well-composed, and well-performed. Still, this has got to be some of of the most middle-of-the-road, unthrilling Jazz I've heard in a long time. Skip it and listen to "Monk's Blues" by Thelonious Monk instead.

Just enough interesting stuff to lift this up to a 3. Probably more of a 2.5

Super smooth and pleasant. Sounds a little bit like waiting room music but that's speaking highly of waiting rooms more than badly about the music.

I quite enjoyed this all told. Certainly it was very relaxing and fairly interesting for much of it. There isn't a great deal to say beyond that, other than it melded African and South Asian instruments quite nicely (I think?).

Very chill

Not on am

Mellow

I have really tried to like Jazz but I just don’t get it. I think I like Jazz with vocals behind it and this hasn’t got that. In the jazz world this may well be top notch but to my ears it’s just not my bag.

One of the albums I didn't know it existed. But this is quite an interesting record. Nice laidback jazz tunes with a lot of depth. 4/5

3/5

I liked this a lot It could have gone on for a lot longer and I still would have been happy

This is a pleasant, sort of folksy, jazz record. It's got some swing to it on some songs while others are meditative studies in downtempo moods. I prefer the few that thread the needle between these two approaches, e.g. Sameeda. (In a different era I could imagine hearing Manenberg Revisited while waiting for the dentist or car salesman to return.) But I can tell I'm going to need to read a Wikipedia page or some book of music criticism to get a better sense of why this particular album from Abdullah Ibrahim is considered "1001 list" important.

So good all the way through.

As far as jazz goes, this is starting out very pleasantly. This is like the jazz that would be in an animated feature. This is like a Randy Newman album without the lyrics which is why it sounds like the Toy Story score. This is one of the better jazz albums on the list. It's super conventional though so that probably makes me a philistine. I wonder why the title track isn't available on Spotify. Once Vince Guaraldi died, this guy could have replaced him for Charlie Brown TV specials. The Mountain could be called Inspired by the Taxi Theme. Closes on a bit of a low note with Sameeda being the worst track. All in all though, not a bad jazz album.

Not something I would listen to normally. For me its more a live listening experience than on a stereo.

Nice and pleasant background music.

Cool jazz

Nice background lounge music with a sax and everything

read my book through this entire record and i gotta say it did a good job, really nice chill album, can’t complain

5/10

Soso

“1,001 Albums You Might Enjoy In a Jazz Lounge or Poolside with Cocktails, Certainly Enjoying the Music as a Background Pleasantry, But Never For One Moment Thinking to Yourself, Yes, This Is the One, A Transcendent Musical Milestone that Demands to Be Heard, Because that Would Be Ridiculous.”

Solid if unspectacular jazz. Expected more.

Jazz is still not my style ;(

I wanted more African influence and got considerably more jazz than I bargained for. “Mandela” sounds like the horn section settling a workplace dispute in real time, while the rest alternates between sleepy lounge music and the sort of jazz accompaniment cartoon animals would perform in a 1960s Looney Tunes nightclub scene.

Perfect soundtrack for my nature walk today.

This is great background music. Nothing stands out, good or bad. Not that it is banal, it's just great background chill. I am not going to shout out, "the greatest" nor am I going to say it sucked. But indispensable? I could have lived my life to its fullest never having heard this. But I am not disappointed either for having given it a go. 3 "perfectly great background musical" stars.

calm and nice

I've listened jazz albums that were worse. I'd consider this a compliment.

What makes this collection of jazz compositions better than another collection of jazz compositions beats me.

Nice jazz. An enjoyable listen

it's ok maybe a little too chill Will I listen to again: 5%

A really beautiful jazz album. The piano playing is georgeous. Spotify’s version is jacked up (several tracks include false starts of other tunes. And, it’s missing the title track? C’mon spotify!!). Still, I’ve heard enough to give Mr. Ibrahim a 5.

Buen álbum de Jazz, lástima que no está completo en Spotify ni en plataformas en general. Canciones cortad, bien estructuradas. Se disfrutó mucho. 6/10

Not as good as I thought it would be; just fine.

I mostly tuned this out but it was decent in the background. 2.5/5

Not great for me.

Lembro dessa água, bons tempos. Gostosinho, background suave pra trabalhar. Me lembrou Mafia.

Not what I was expecting at all. But really relaxing. Would listen again as background music.

This was a surprising find; lots of different sorts of songs.

p530. 1986. 2 stars. Jazz. Don't like jazz. Well done of its kind, but... meh. Nothing here that wasn't done better in the 1930s-1940s.

Did not expect an instrumental jazz piano album on here, so this was a surprise. While I do love jazz, piano, and jazz piano, I didn’t feel especially connected to these selection of songs.

I fw this heavy.

I found this record completely unmoving and unoriginal.

a very satisfying, pleasing listen. like a warm hug. I wasn't familiar with this one, but will be keeping a lookout for it on vinyl. not sure what's up with its publishing and not being on some streaming services, but I'd spin this in the evenings or on a snowy/rainy weekend if I had it at home. great stuff.

Real pleasant all the way through. I'd probably listen on occasion again while cooking or something if it were on Apple Music.

I had no desire to listen to jazz (which is almost always the case), but this was great. Very easy on the ears with lots of interesting things happening.

분위기가 꽤 괜찮았다. 가사가 없는 노래를 계속해서 들은 것은 꽤 오랜만인데 듣기 좋았다. The atmosphere was pretty good. It's been quite a while since I listened to a song without lyrics over and over again, so it was nice to hear it.

It's background music for a move. Not really more I can add.

I found this really smooth and lovely. Bit more interesting cafe music. Great in the background or foreground.

As far as jazz goes, this is starting out very pleasantly. This is like the jazz that would be in an animated feature. This is like a Randy Newman album without the lyrics which is why it sounds like the Toy Story score. This is one of the better jazz albums on the list. It's super conventional though so that probably makes me a philistine. I wonder why the title track isn't available on Spotify. Once Vince Guaraldi died, this guy could have replaced him for Charlie Brown TV specials. The Mountain could be called Inspired by the Taxi Theme. Closes on a bit of a low note with Sameeda being the worst track. All in all though, not a bad jazz album.

A good listen in the car yesterday, but nothing spectacular- I was expecting more tbh, as it’s in the top 1000? Nothing to really get my teeth into

Not really for me

This recording was interesting. At times engaging, at times quietly going along and then always surprising. I didn't love all of it but it definitely held my attention for spells of genius.

"The Mountain" was my standout favorite. Overall kinda milquetoast, but mild jazz is always nice easy listenin' so I won't complain.

Pretty bland start, borderline hotel reception or elevator jazz🥱🥱🥱, Tuang Guru is cool track, album more interesting from half way ⭐⭐⭐

Unremarkable

Not for me. Background music

This isn't bad, but I fail to see why I need to hear it before I die. I've heard plenty of other, far better jazz that better suits the list.

i was looking forward to this until i listened to it and it was the most stereotypical jazz music i've heard. like i love jazz don't get me wrong but this didn't blow my mind. thought at least it woulda had some african inspo in it but eh whatever

Yeah, it's relaxing jazz, but it might be too relaxing, where it really doesn't do much. I'm sure I would be hearing this on ABC Jazz (Australian Jazz radio station) at 2:39 am, as it isn't groundbreaking, but because it's jazz. For an African artist, it would be better if he included some elements from his culture, kind of like how Fela Kuti did it.

Zul je altijd zien, heel album en dan mist het titel nummer. En zul je altijd altijd zien, dat nummer zoek je dan maar op youtube op, en dat is dan je favoriet van het hele album... Niet alles werkt, maar het grootste deel is gewoon echt hele chille, relaxte jazz. Niet het meest bijzondere, ik heb het idee dat ik moeilijkere en specialere composities heb gehoord en het haalt het absoluut niet bij klassiekers als Headhunters of Kind of Blue. Maar ik ben wel blij om weer even een album te hebben dat ik gewoon echt lekker vind. Dat gewoon echt lekker weg luistert. Mandela is ook goed, net niet goed genoeg als favoriet, maar de rest? het is niet heel erg blijven hangen, en ik kwam er ook pas na een paar nummers achter dat het album over was en ik gewoon naar meer Abdullah Ibrahim zat te luisteren. Is dat een goed teken? Ja en nee, want aan de ene kant betekende dat wel dat de muziek goed wegluistert. Aan de andere kant is het dus wel meer achtergrond muziek dan dat ik actief zit te luisteren. Overigens; zijn tiny desk(ja echt!!!) is ge-wel-dig. Daar zit een stuk meer emotie in dan in de recording, ik heb een beetje het idee dat een hoop van de warmte verloren is gegaan met de Spotify compressie ofzoiets. Dus wat geef je zo'n album dan? Ben bijna geneigd het 4 sterren te geven omdat het mn favoriete album was van de afgelopen 2 weken. Maar dat zegt meer iets over de afgelopen 2 weken... Ik blijf bij 3 sterren, maar wil daar wel bij opmerken dat het solowerk van Abdullah Ibrahim een dikke 4 sterren verdient. FAVO: Water from an ancient well

Some very excellent jazz

Not sure if I'm high on endorphins or if I like jazz?!

This is perfectly fine jazz. It’s not groundbreaking, and it’s certainly not pushing the boundaries the way some of the other jazz albums on this list do. Instead, it settles into a comfortable groove and stays there. For some reason, the whole album gives me strong Peanuts cartoon vibes. I kept thinking of Charlie Brown while listening to it. It has that same warm, laid-back, slightly wistful feel that makes for pleasant background listening.

Totally pleasant stuff! I wish I liked this more. I'm interested to hear more music from this guy especially because he intersected with like , Duke Ellington and then later people like Don Cherry and and Ornette Coleman and Pharoah Sanders.

Pleasant listen while just chilling on a bed after feeling like I might have gotten heat exhaustion from a run. Annoying that the title track isn't on Spotify, but again its solid 2.5

This is really simple but still very elegant. Like, very clear jazz, like looking through a crystal ball or a very clean pond on a day with no wind. It doesn't feel or sound like anything special, but I would argue that actually makes it really good, just because jazz can get really crunchy really quickly. So, this album gets to be jazzy while still being very digestible. Also, I'm such a sucker for down-tempo jazz. Favorite Song(s): Song for Sathima

#372/1001. Nice jazz, but there are hundreds of other nice jazz albums out there, only few of which end up here. Reading his biography it makes me think this is a political choice, and I'm not sure why they included this particular album out of his extensive discography. All that said, nice to get good jazz here every now and then. Not sure if I'll ever get back to it or to his work though.

I love jazz, but from all the great jazz records, why this album? Incredibly average, boring - totally could've died without hearing this.

"Is this good jazz? Is this bad jazz? All I feel qualified to say is that this is definitely jazz." en "In one ear and out the other."

Fairly run of the mill jazz; there are much better jazz albums missing from this list.

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Tuang Guru Sadly, on YTM, the titular track Water From An Ancient Well is unplayable, so I have not heard it. I found a version which may or may not be the same version on the album elsewhere, but its just not the same :( The album was fine. Seems like regular jazz with an South African bent. Not that I can really deduce that on my own... It's in the description! I have no complaints or objections to this album save for the fact that it effectively has a chunk missing, for some presumably copyright reason.

This was a tough find but enjoyable. 3/5

Great to hear jazz having a place here. Nice and smooth. A bit "old" sounding though.

Some perfectly nice jazz, but as someone that’s not a jazz guy, it could only do so much for me. I liked the anti-apartheid context of it, and it was a nice enough listen (a bit more tuneful than some of the jazz I’ve had from the list so far). I think the best way I could describe the sound is like the theme to a kind of ‘After Dark’ discussion show from the 70s or 80s- classy, but with a bit of lightness. Overall though, it was just background music to me.

This was a very enjoyable jazz album, with a real timeless quality to it. The album starts strongly with the upbeat 'Mandela', followed by what for me is the standout track, the stunning 'Song for Sathima.' Overall, the album is a good blend of classic jazz and traditional South African music which I enjoyed enough for 4 stars.

This sounds like it’s from several decades before 1986, but not in a bad way! It’s a really solid, rather traditional jazz album, very strong on melodies and hooks. ‘Mandela’ and ‘Manenburg Revisited’ are two great up-tempo examples of this, but there are some beautiful ballads too, such as ‘Song for Sathima’, the title track, and ‘The Wedding’. Other tracks didn’t make as much impression on me, and I wasn’t particularly keen on the closer. Overall, I didn’t quite like it enough for 4 stars, but this is a strong 3. Great to have some more South African music too.

Meh. Another one of those that you wonder how it made the list.

The rehythm section sounds like backing tracks I'd practice over back in high school and some of the solos sound like my band mates back then, not in a good way. Truly bleh, and I actually like jazz

Had to dig a bit to find a stream of the title track, but it was worth it and was probably my second favorite to Manenberg Revisited. Overall a well-rounded jazz album that I enjoyed but didn't knock my socks off.

Good

Honestly was not expecting jazz when I put this one on. Its got a very late night talk show/eating at sundown on the river in a European city vibe (think Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night). That said, not hugely into this type of jazz. Definitely a vibe that I can get into in certain scenarios, but not something I'd listen to outside that.

Rate: 8/10

Nothing particularly spectacular about this. I could list hundreds of jazz albums that are more deserving of a place on the list. If there is a reason that I am not aware of as to why this album is included here then I’m happy to be enlightened, but upon listening, it was nothing special.

Boring

Classy afro Jazzes

Perfectly cromulent entry-level jazz with some nice solo work. But how this showed up on this project before Coltrane, Baker, Rich, etc. is a real head-scratcher.

Well dang.

It’s instrumental week now is it?

I enjoyed this. Very chill, easy listening.

It made me appreciate Jazz a little bit more. So I didn't enjoy it but I listened to it until the end.

thought this would be more like Sun Ra or Pharaoh Sanders, but was pleasantly surprised by the swing tune at the beginning of the album. really enjoyed this a lot

All the respect in the world for the anti-apartheid activism. The music is pleasant and flirts with being bland. But there is something interesting going on here and it's worth a listen.

3.2

I guess it’s fine. I’m unqualified to separate good jazz from bad jazz. 2.5⭐️

Wasn't super groovy....but wasn't unlistenable. 2.5 - wouldn't mind spinning again so I'll round up.

I like jazz, but there wasn’t much variety in this album, feel like most of the songs were too similar to one another

Jazz music is, as it was decribed numerous times, a separate realm, with its own armies of devoted fans. What this album is thankfully capable of is to make the genre more conceivable by the outsider listeners. A highly delicate collection of compositions that are ever-changing and different in many ways, but leave a feeling that you've experienced something smooth and worthwhile. "Song For Sathima", the title track and "The Mountain" are the highlights. The 12-minute-long title track is the most interesting during the first and the last few minutes. The album probably evolved into this more standard kind of jazz that you cannot perceive actively for long if not a lifetime long fan, but, as I've mentioned, it offers much beyond that, and is thus rightfully included in the 1001 list.

no me gusta el jazz

Enjoyable album

I'm not a fan of jazz. This was OK as jazz goes.

Pleasant jazz album, though I have heard more outstanding ones. It is a really easy listening one. 4/5

Casablanca Jazz. This feels like a smoky bar with men in tuxedos and women in slinky dresses, smoking French cigarettes and drinking 16-year single malt Scotch. Smooth atmospheric lounge jazz, all the way up until the end with "Sameeda" where the trumpeter loosens his tie and gets a little improvisational. Not bad for a jazz album, and while this may have opened up the artist to the world, I don't think this NEEDED to be heard. My Rating: 4/5

Thoughts before listening: This is new to me. Based on the artist name and the album artwork I am guessing this is some sort of Middle Eastern/African inspired music possibly with a bit of an ambient vibe. But I really have no idea. Review: I was totally off. This is a full on jazz recording with no middle eastern or ambient vibes at all. Eggs on my face for making assumptions based on a person's name. It is very peaceful, relaxing jazz music with lush instrumentation that is well played throughout. Not necessarily something I would gravitate toward, but certainly an enjoyable listen. 3-stars

Not quite Jazz o my ears. MOR World music which drifts over you without effect. 2/5 5/5/26

Made me feel like I was in a 90s Meg Ryan film waiting for Tom Hanks.

Nice background jazz

Yeah, this is really good stuff. It’s not something I would have sought out, basically because I wouldn’t know where to start. But I generally enjoy this type of music. The mix of jazz, big band, in New Orleans “street music “is something I tend to put on and leave on. This is great, quiet dinner, making music.

A pleasant enough jazz record. Didn’t really get me excited.

An okay album, I liked Mandela the most.

Better than 3.8 i'd say

Of all the jazz albums I didn't understand why this was chosen until I read more. Interesting, but not something I'd play over and over.

I had no particularly strong feelings about this album until the end. I thought Song for Sathima was very nice and that the instrumentation was very good (although I don’t think they would let you in the recording booth for a jazz album if you weren’t exceptional). And then came Sameeda, an extremely interesting choice for closing out the album. It has a real stank on it that wasn’t really present anywhere else. It also played a little more dynamically than some of the other inclusions. Overall I’m glad I listened and some of it will stick with me, but it’s not one I’m passionate about.

What a gem of an album. Love the title track.

joa smooth The wedding ist schön

3,0 Highlights: Mandela, The Wedding

46 минут звука ремонта были бы меньшей пыткой, чем этот альбом

звучит как то, что включили бы в лобби дорогого отеля, чтобы он казался ещё дороже. можно завайбить, если ты американец старого образца, читающий за завтраком утренние новости под сигару, пока жена приносит тебе кофе. или живёшь в шоу трумана. но вообще уныленько, пахнет рекламой и чем-то не очень живым.

Мандела будто из нарезки в суперсемейке. Песня для Сатимы хорошая. Посещенный Снова Манненберг будто бы написан для передачи по реновации дачного дома. Туан Гуру, вроде как, тоже нормальный, но как-то недожали в плане хаотичности. Вода из древнего колодца тоже хорошая, я сначала послушал какую-то совсем постную пятиминутную версию, которая мне совсем не понравилась, а потом какую-то другую, которая была лучше, в вк музыке не разберешь, где оригинал, возможно я вообще вместо нормальных версий всё это время EDM ремиксы слушал. Свадьба хорошая, когда грустно из-за того, что пишут "если он будет кринжевать с нас, то нам не жаль". Гора довольно заунывная, но в принципе нормально, флейта (или что это) в паре мест почему-то напомнила флейту из Кунг Фу Файтинг Карла Дугласа (наверное я просто нигде в жизни больше не слышал флейту), а в другом месте Луч солнца золотого. Самида в начале вообще что-то непонятное творила, а потом разогрелась в принципе, но равно не знаюююю. 3/5

я хз, КАЛ. постный джаз бля

It was fine, but jam bands or long instrumentals aren't really for me. I did like how some of the songs felt like they should be in an old James Bond movie

This album was really hard to find. Not because it's African, I think. But it was worth the search. Peace-enducing jazz, I will have to listen to more of this artist. I need this music in my life. 4.5/5

Basic jazz album. Nothing special, works well as background music. Nothing I would put on and just listen to raw.

Brady Bunch soundtrack ah album

Great jazz album. Compositions are inventive and beautiful. It put me in a great mood.

A gem.

Boooooring

I enjoyed this one, it's a fun Jazz album. Not sure what else there is to say!

I'm not qualified to critique jazz at all, but it was a good listen. Very smooth and chill.

Straightforward and traditional jazz stuff from a South African pianist. It's fine.

Seems like pretty standard piano-forward jazz. I guess I was expecting something a little more interesting.

the title song is nice, couldn't find the album

masaje de Cliptori :D

low 3. Nada especial

mandela - very nice, i like instruments. at 1 point sounds pretty similar 2 the song im playing w my band, "doxy" song 4 sathima - luvly manenberg revisited - i like the bass, dunno what instrument it is bc i cant have the volume that high where im at rn but i like it tuang guru - ooo i like the scale wfaaw - not on spotify (in my area atleast) 4 sum reason? shame, rly nice song so far (found it on youtube) very nice album, enjoyed it alot

This isn't your run of the mill elevator jazz music... this is your, black coffee, chain smoking cigarettes, late new york nights, very cool jazz music. Felt like I went through all emotions but boredom in this album.

Eh, lacks a general feeling of Jazz and sounds more like a technical writing of Jazz. Lacks emotion and depth.

Good jazz album. Different sounds and creativity. Relaxing but not boring.

Viene medio que en el mismo mood que los ultimos días. Es un jazzito piola. Agradable a los oídos, pero que no siento que sea nada wow. Me compraria un vinilo asi como para tener, pero no xq sea nada wow sino xq es buena musica de fondo. 7/10

I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. From the cover I would have guessed this was an ambient album but it's a jazz album. It's pretty interesting and has some nice moments. I wouldn't mind hearing it again but not sure I would seek it out specifically either.

a little elevator-y for me

I seem to get a pattern of country followed by jazz! Considering he's noted as a pianist, the piano is largely anonymous. Where it is heard, it's fairly pleasing, but not enough to save the album.

This was really good jazz with soul, I’d love to find this one on vinyl

It was alright. I had to listen to it on Spotify while I was on the road and it kept throwing in recommended songs instead of actual songs from this album so that was a pain to deal with. But "Wedding" was really good.

I’ve never really got into Abdullah Ibrahim’s jazz. I’m afraid “Water from an Ancient Well” isn’t going to change that. It’s all very well played, but overall Ibrahim’s playing (or that of his band) strikes me as too polished, too well-behaved, too clean. The solos, confined to strict blues patterns, are predictable. I’m missing that final spark. The last four tracks from “Tuang Guru” to "Sameeda" stand out a little. But, as I said, overall it’s too well-behaved for my taste. Not bad, but not my kind of jazz.

No soy en experto en el género del Jazz, sin embargo, a lo largo de este trabajo he logrado descubrir cohesión en tanto al nombre del LP y a su sonido. Todo, porque a pesar de que se grabó cerca del '86, es innegable que se siente como tomar "agua de una fuente antigua". Esto se puede deber a que toma sonidos de los álbumes más clásicos del Jazz dándole tintes nostálgicos. Me gustó bastante. Lo recomiendo. Siempre aprecio cuando esta lista me entrega un buen disco de Jazz.

I didn't really need a jazz album today

Not what I was expecting to hear (not that I'm sure what I was expecting). It's perfectly fine jazz, not sure why it merits being on the list though.

God Jazz af en masse forskellige artister bla Miles Davis og sikkert også andre store som jeg ikke rigtig kender til. Det er jazz med sydafrikanske rødder og det første jeg tænkte var måske nogle af basslines osv som fik mig til at tænke det var meget opløftende og dermed noget bebop agtig noget, og det har også elementer af det helt sikkert. Det hedder også Cape jazz og det er abdullah frontløber for. Det har rødder i Amerikansk jazz, kirkemusik og marabi. Synes det er et super chilleren album, meget romantisk på en eller anden måde som jeg godt kan lide. Det kunne godt gå til en søndags playliste synes jeg. Det er jo sådan lidt low tempo noget af det, men noget af det er også lidt højere tempo.

this and cymande right after is a godly combo

Very fun, title track stands out. 3.9/5

Like it 3/5

I started to listen but this is pure lounge jazz and I can't cope. Just a big no thank you from me

I'm sure there's a story behind this that would make it a more interesting listen...but on the surface this is just safe, traditional jazz - brilliantly played, but unfortunately super boring.

Ok this is kinda hitting a groove for me. Nice background music which is sometimes all I want.

pleasant

Pleasant.

I dislike jazz, don't care for instrumental music, and not a fan of horns or pianos, so talk about starting behind the 8 ball!

This was fun. Cool jazz. A little more playful and traditional, but also really good and interesting piano solos. I enjoyed this, didn't love it, but definitely liked it!

It's whatever. Poor mixing too.

трудно воспринять это

Eh

The title track was the best one and the flute part the best. I think this is technically good so I feel bad rating it lower but I just didn’t really enjoy listening to it

Nice and easy to listen, but I would find something else, if I'm in the mood for jazz.

дали джазу. и нормально так дали. но я люблю что-то более неформатное и экспериментальное, здесь прям по классике. 4/5

Highlights: Mandela, Tuang Guru

Pretty and laid-back, this jazz album takes its time to unfold. Mostly driven by piano, its songs feel like twinkling sounds soundscapes. The highlight is the 11 minute title track, which feels like a journey. In particular I like the saxophone solo in the middle. When the saxophone gets going, like on that song and on "Song for Santhima," the songs feel like they're going somewhere. More often though this feels a little static and stuck in the same sounds. This is definitely a nice listen, but I don't find anything about it to be all that unique.

A cool album. The sort of album that makes us glad we started the 1,001 album project because we likely never would have listened to it otherwise. Richly textured classical storytelling.

66/100 had a couple good songs some were quite lackluster tho

Pleasant enough, but not my thing.

Fine for once, not very outstanding

I’m learning more and more through this album journey that jazz & jazz-ish album aren’t my favorite thing in the world. This album falls in that category, musically it isn’t bad. It’s actually somewhat easy to listen to but it isn’t for me. It felt like it dragged on and was more of a chore to listen to

This was a lovely album. It is an easy swing and the music has an understated quality that I like. I suspect that time and place make it one of those albums that you have to hear before you die. The songs about Mandela & Manenberg Revisited are definitely political. I'll listen again

Neat

eh, okay

Thoroughly pleasant. It’s such a smooth, easy-listening time. It’s not ever going to massively grab my attention, but it doesn’t need to. It’s just a nice listen, and that's ok. 3.5 rounded up.

Easier to listen than some, but still not really for me

This is not worth the time if you are a true jazz fan. The music is relaxing and ok but there is nothing earth shaking about the compilations. Definitely not something I needed to listen to before I die. Much more impressive jazz musicians should have made this list.

Lovely jazz album. Pretty standard, nothing too earth shattering here. Arrangements remind me of Ellington. Especially enjoyed the bass work on "Manenberg Revisited" and the overall groove of "Sameeda".

jazz just isnt my type of music

It's nice. 3/5.

Nooope. Hate it.

Magic.

music is love

3/5, mer jazz. Bättre än det senaste albumet men är fortsatt mest bakgrundsmusik för mig.

Very nice as a background music.

I continue to hate jazz and this time I couldn’t even get through it. Very low energy stuff. Elevator music at best. Poo poo.

Relatively interesting background lounge jazz. Not sure why I needed to hear this before I died.

Very pleasant jazz. Sounded great the whole time

Not for me. 1/5

Loved this one

Not something I would choose to listen to but if it was playing in the background I would be ok with it

Pas un grand connaisseur de jazz mais s’écoute très bien en musique de fond. Du miel pour les oreilles

Ca s'écoute, mais ça reste très très tranquille pour que j'apprécie réellement, je ne pense pas réécouter mais si je l'entends quelque part je vais me dire 'Ah sympa' Si je faisais des réceptions avec des snobs c'est probablement la musique que je mettrais

Jazz, 1986 -> 3

This wasn’t available on my streaming service. I like some of his other stuff that I’ve heard.

j'aime pas le jazz

Very pleasant.

Smooth piano jazz

A hidden gem

Good

Paint by number jazz

This was more "composed" jazz than some other jazz entries on this list. It was nice, but overly horny (har har) for my taste. I tend to like my jazz featuring more piano and strings up front (I say as if I really ever listen to jazz). This is pretty inoffensive for jazz though, so it was a pleasant listen. Not my favorite genre but it's good for some background listening while working or relaxing. 3/5

Nice jazz album

Not for me

I like the name of this album and I usually really dig instrumental albums on this list but it all felt pretty forgettable. I'm really kinda bummed to write that. I gave it two listens and didn't keep a moment.

Very relaxing, simply smooth. There were many moments that made me think of other songs. I would be open to seeing what else he has to offer.

Apple Music didn't have this, but I found it on Bandcamp. The thing that stands out to me here are the melodies. They are novel yet familiar and unpretentious. Jazz can be DIFFICULT, and can become really academic. Ibrahim counters this with solid compositions and tight orchestration that don't rely too heavily on improvisation to make their point. Even the 11 minute title track doesn't go off the rails, but stays within its own melodic framework while trading eights (or sixteens? I don't know) among all the horn players. There's no showboating. Everyone is playing to the tune. A really pleasant listen.

It has a kinda ska jazz feel. It is a pleasant background jazz album but not anything outstanding.

Sounds like Jazz... But, less than (maybe it's me? But I get the feeling it's not).

Nice background music, but that's all it is for me. Where's the drama x

We went on holiday to Porto last year. It was quite late on our last night there, so we went looking for one last drink to say farewell to Portugal. And we stumbled across something quite unique: a tiny bar with just enough space for 4 or 5 people to squash into, but with a hand-written sign saying “live music upstairs”. We took a chance, and climbed the steep, narrow, winding stairs. The upper floor had a bit more space (not much more), a few tables and seats, and most notably, a live jazz band. There were a few locals sitting around dusty tables, music college students from what I could tell, and then us outsiders, having a last glass of Douro before we had to head back to real life again. The band members kept switching out between songs, with some of the students hopping up and grabbing instruments to play the next number. It was a really great, authentic experience. The type of thing that sticks with you, that you talk about often afterwards (or even write about in a random album review). But what really struck me was the musicianship. I’ve often said that I don’t fully “get” jazz. Experimental, traditional, soft jazz, or any type really. It just goes over my head. But I absolutely respect and appreciate it, especially the musicianship of it all. There’s some serious disciplined talent in jazz. And that’s what I got from this album too. It made for some enjoyable easy listening, but didn’t really make a big impact on me listening to it as a record. But if I were to sit down in a dusty bar and discover a group of students playing Abdullah Ibrahim’s pieces live, I’d imagine I’d be blown away by it all, and talk about it for years to come.

Not my taste.

Completely not what I expected. It's a shame there was no lyrics.

Jazz Hands!!!

This was not particularly what I was expecting. I enjoyed huge portions of it but relegated some of it to the back of my mind as I was listening. It is a cool cultural blend that features some imaginative playing and is all very well constructed. It just doesn’t feel desperately groundbreaking or risky to me.

there’s a particular kind of peace this album carries… the feeling of arriving somewhere after a long journey, where the tension you forgot you were holding finally releases. it’s the sonic equivalent of a film’s final scene: the protagonist standing still, finally understanding something they couldn’t name before.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

de altíssimo nível pqp

jazz beeeeeeeem tranquilinho, gostosinho demais coisa boa. foi bem relaxante!!

I loved listening through this album even though I didn't have a clue what it was beforehand. Its an excellent jazz album that I will gladly listen to many times over. Its so soothing and smooth I added the entire album to have on hand for future days when I want to relax at home.

That was a great mix. This is the kind of bluesy jazz I’m into. Nice brass.

I understand the historical significance of this record, but it mostlysounds like stock standard 50s jazz, 30 years too late.

2 sterne

That was extraordinary. I nearly turned it off because I wasn't in the mood for jazz but some of it was spellbinding! A rare, nice surprise from this list that I'll put on again.

after the first two songs i was ready to question myself as to whether i do enjoy jazz after all. the rest of the album however proved i don‘t.

As jazz goes not bad, good background music. Not my thing though

It sure is jazz. No doubt about that. I’m not the best judge of jazz, so take this with a grain of salt. This music did not move me and I didn’t find it to be particularly interesting or inventive. Sure, it’s smooth, but it’s not for me.

Not sure how this jazz record is any different from others on this list

Mellow enough. Pleasant enough. Low-key enough. Enough enough. 46 minutes well spent with highly-skilled artists.

I’m never gonna get in with this style of jazz. I accept my limitations.

This was pleasant, and sounded like it came from a bygone era.

Didnt know what to expect, but this was solid. Maybe the best jazz album I've heard from the '80s, although that sounds like I'm damning it with faint praise. But yeah, this was cool.

I'm not a jazz aficionado but I can appreciate some of it. But mostly this album just bored me. Is jazz music more for musicians than listeners?

Maybe 2 jazz albums in a row is too much for me. Or maybe it's because yesterday's jazz album (Keith Jarrett's The Koln Concert) was so great it sent me down the artist's rabbit hole. Whatever it is, this just felt like very bog standard jazz album that didn't keep my attention.

Now I’m no jazzmanian devil but this doesn’t strike me as anything special. Pleasant for sure, but not a favorite

Feels very old school and has a nice charm to it

Fungerer fint som bakgrunnsstøy.

Lovely background instrumental jazz, not my vibe

A lot of this was very chilled, pleasant and beautiful; a lot of this was very... Jazz.

Pretty good though nothing standouts to me.

Jazz - ruhig und als Hintergrundmusik geeignet. Einen tieferen Sinn finde ich nicht darin. 2/5

I wouldn’t say I really liked this. This album consists of pretty generic jazz music that is really forgettable. It’s a shame that the title track isn’t on Spotify (I had to listen to it on YouTube afterwards), because that was easily my favourite.

Een prima jazz album

Ja dit was gewoon een heel lekker album. Niets baanbrekends maar fijn om op te hebben

Jammer dat het niet ieeetsje avontuurlijker is. Verder wel een heerlijke jazzplaat met mooie arrangements.

i mean if you play me a jazz album chances are im gonna love it

Sound track for a guy walking around a rundown town and reminiscing. Would have gone hard during COVID.

Not on Apple Music. Will need to piece it together.

netter pianosound für den hintergrund

Nett, aber etwas verstaubt.

No vocals at all. Only very smooth and relaxing South African jazz music. I think I'll use this album as something to listen to while I work on school projects. Ver gud!

This was a refreshing change of pace for my morning.

Not my favorite tenor sound...and oh my that spittle buzz. That's very distracting. Not what I expected when clicking on a jazz record from 1986. Sounds more 1950s, in both vibe and recording quality. I've been obsessed of late with Paquito D'Rivera Live at Keystone Korner (1982). This is not that. I really can't get past the sustained, spittle-infused notes.

Джазы, но не такие лютые, но слушать приятно

Brass is a funny thing. I love when it shows up unexpected in music. Like the saxophone on "Thunder Road" (as mentioned in my "Born to Run" review). A well placed trumpet or sax can just elevate a song, like a dash of cinnamon in a nice mulligatawny soup. You didnt know it'd be good until you tried it. That said, I don't want a mouthful of cinnamon. Too many people all playing brass at once sort of kills it for me. That said, I didn't hate this. It just mostly seemed like nice wallpaper. It's a bit of a relief, because after "Time Out" I'd just assumed I'd love all the jazz albums on this without understanding why. Well, I still don't understand why...this one, like "Time Out" would be good to put on while cooking that aforementioned mulligatawny. But I just didnt like this one so much.

Good, but kinda don’t remember much.

Well I wasn't expecting that ... Jazz! It was a nice experience though, may have to check out more of his stuff - there are plenty of albums.

Unremarkable but pleasant jazz. Nothing special

재즈인가?3

No interest sorry